Kurdistan’s Weekly Brief Sept 6

Turkey

During a rally in the city of Van, the Co-president of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtash said that fighting took place in Imirali prison where the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan is imprisoned. Demirtash expressed his concern about Ocalan’s situation and called on Turkey’s government to allow visits the imprisoned leader in order to confirm that he’s still alive and in good health. On Sept 4, Demirtash held a press conference after meeting HDP members where he said “we will continue our stance since the unarmed solution.” He also urged the Turkish government to listen to the voice of the people and their calls for peace. Recently a large hunger strike campaign has begun in Turkey and Europe until the Turkish government is able to clearly demonstrate that Ocalan is alive and well. The hunger strikers are also demanding that the government allow communication between Ocalan and his family, friends, and supporters. Several HDP deputies participated in the hunger strike.

The Diyarbakır 2nd High Criminal Court ordered seven HDP deputies to be brought to court forcibly for a scheduled hearing in November 2016 in a case against the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK). The order comes after neither HDP Group Deputy-Chair Chaglar Demirel nor HDP MPs Osman Baydemir, Dirayet Tashdemir, Ahmet Yildirim, Besime Konca, Alican Onlu and Nadir Yildirim attended a Sept. 5 hearing. Many HDP deputies, including the Co-president, have open cases against them to strip their immunities under various charges, including “Terror Propaganda.”

Two journalists from the pro-Kurdish Ozgur Gundem newspaper still remain jailed after their arrest last month. Chief Editor Zana Bilir Kaya and Editor Inan Kizilkaya are being held under severe conditions in Silivri Prison, according to media reports. The two journalists have been placed in a jail with those who have been involved in the recent failed coup attempt. Another Kurdish journalist working for Dijla news agency has been arrested in Cizre and was later transferred to Silopi.

Syria

Speaking at a European Union sponsored conference, Saleh Muslem, the Co-president of Democratic Union Party (PYD), criticized Turkey’s intervention in Syria. He stated that “EU countries must speak up against Turkey’s invasion of Rojava.” Muslem also accused the Turkish government of aiding ISIS. He explained that the “Jarablus attack didn’t come out of the blue. Turkey has been attacking Rojava and Kurdish interests for years. We are in possession of documents showing their aid to ISIS. With this attack, Turkey is also attacking Syria’s democratization and the model we are trying to realize. They are on the same side as the regime in this matter.” Muslem also participated in the Kurdish rally in Colonge, Germany.

A 17-year-old man was killed by the Turkish military whileprotesting Turkish attempts to encroach upon YPG-controlled territory in Kobani. The Turkish government has begun building a wall along the border between Turkey and Syria, near Kobani. Turkish troops allegedly began entering into Syrian, YPG-controlled territory during this construction, resulting in protests among the people of Kobani. These protests continued for days in order to stop the Turkish government both from building the wall and violating Kurdish controlled territorial integrity. Meanwhile a father and his son were killed by the Turkish military while trying to cross the border.

Four factions from the Syrian Democratic forces (SDF) – the Army of Rebels, Kurds Front, Bab Military Council, and Democratic North – declared the liberation of several villages in northern Aleppo (Shahba area). Fighting continues between the SDF and ISIS in northern Aleppo.

Iraq

Kurdistan’s Ministry of Natural Sources (MNS) released a revenue overview of the oil exports for August of 2016. According to MNS, the Kurdistan region has sold 411,727 barrels of oil and 6 millions of standard cubic feet of natural gas. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) received a total net income from these exports of $349,869,653 USD. Meanwhile the KRG and Iraq government reached an agreement to reinitiate Kirkuk’s oil exports via the Ceyhan pipeline. The agreement includes, a total of 150,000 barrels of oil would be exported, with the revenues being split 50/50 between Baghdad and the KRG.

An ISIS suicide car bomb exploded in front of a school in a Shia neighborhood in Tuz on Sept 2. Six civilians were killed and four were wounded. ISIS claimed responsibility after the attack.

The Kurdistan Region’s presidential chief of staff revealed that a Kurdish delegation that travelled to Baghdad last week and secured a key oil agreement that brought “positive results” made the visit at the request of US officials. Fuad Hussein told Rudaw that “our visit and meetings we had with Baghdad was upon a suggestion from the US Embassy in Iraq.” The KRG’s delegation was headed by the prime minister, who held several meetings with Iraqi officials such as Iraqi President Fuad Masoum, Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi, and Ammar Al Hakim, the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq.

Iran

The Kurdistan Human Rights Association issued a monthly report for August on the human rights violations in Iran (Eastern Kurdistan). The report highlighted the regime’s executions of political activists and civilians. The organization also stated that 34 Kurdish prisoners, including the Kurdish political prisoner Mihemed Abdullahi in Urmiye Prison, were executed in August.